Leo honestly hadn't expected that disappearing for a little while would make these brats gather together and start whispering behind his back—actually plotting a "rebellion," no less.
Watching the three guilty-looking girls stand stiffly in the living room, he clicked his tongue in amusement as he walked in.
"So when the three of you get together, you really do produce this kind of chemical reaction, huh? Should I praise you for being bold… or punish you?"
He sounded like he was joking, but the girls knew him far too well. With a master as twisted as theirs, jokes could very easily become reality.
So the three of them fired back immediately—but with completely different strategies.
"Um… President, have some tea first."
Asuna took the soft approach, quickly brewing a steaming cup to placate him.
"We were just having a casual discussion. Even servants should have that basic right, shouldn't we?"
Yukino went the logical route, keeping her voice icy calm.
"It's not like we said anything wrong. You're the one who found a new favorite and forgot the old ones."
Utaha chose violence and went head-on.
"Heh."
Leo accepted all three responses without blinking, his smile completely unreadable. The girls swallowed nervously.
"So? Where's Shiina-san?"
In the end, it was Yukino who couldn't stand the atmosphere first and changed the topic.
"Didn't you go to recruit her as a servant? You didn't succeed?"
She was getting better and better at redirecting conversations.
"No, I didn't." Leo shot them an annoyed look. "There was a little… accident."
Thinking about it still made him want to laugh and cry at the same time.
He'd built the mood, poked her emotional wounds, revealed his identity, even unfolded his devil wings until they filled the entire living room. Everything was ready. He just needed Mahiru to nod.
Given the situation, she had a high chance of reacting like Utaha—saying yes in a burst of emotion and becoming his fourth servant on the spot.
And then he could finally confirm whether his Servant Conversion trait, channeled through the Evil Pieces, could really draw an unclaimed Sacred Gear to someone about to reincarnate as a devil.
He'd planned everything perfectly.
What he didn't plan for…
…was Mahiru fainting again.
Yes—right in front of him, the angel collapsed once more.
Not surprising, though. Her body was still weak, she still had a fever, and Leo had shown no mercy at all—first provoking her with the clothing issue, then ripping open her emotional scars, sending her mood into a complete spiral.
And then he revealed his devil wings—shattering her worldview like glass. Her soul practically convulsed.
One shock after another, plus a sick body…
Mahiru simply passed out.
For the second time.
Right into Leo's arms.
Leo's expression had frozen on the spot. Inside, he was screaming.
But he couldn't exactly shake a sick girl awake just to finish the recruitment script, right?
So, helplessly, he carried her back to her room and trudged home in a sulking mood.
"Ah…"
After hearing the whole story, the three girls exchanged looks.
Then—pffft.
They all burst out laughing.
"…Is it really that funny?"
Leo's smile vanished. He stared at them blankly until the girls hurried to stifle their laughter.
"So… do you still plan to invite Shiina-san again?"
Asuna asked curiously.
"Forget it. I'll just let things happen naturally." Leo waved a hand. "It was only a test anyway. Since it didn't work out, I'll shelve it for now."
"You can really give up?" Utaha looked skeptical. "She's the Spring Flower of this year's freshmen, the angel who caused an uproar across Sobu High. You already made contact and even revealed your identity. You're okay just leaving it like that?"
"What else am I supposed to do? Shamelessly go back right after she fainted? Do I not care about my dignity?"
Leo rolled his eyes. "Besides, I don't want people thinking I'm collecting aloof beauties like stamps."
That was the truth.
He wasn't trying to "collect" anyone. He only chose Mahiru because, like Yukino and the others, she was one of the heroines in story.
A story's heroine was likely to possess something special. And even if she didn't, Mahiru was excellent enough to barely qualify as a potential servant.
If some random, nameless "beauty" appeared among Sobu High's aloof flowers, he wouldn't pick her unless she showed some exceptional potential.
But heroines? Heroines were different. All five aloof beauties at Sobu High were heroines of their own stories—that alone put them on his radar.
Leo's criteria for servants were simple:
First, female. He didn't care whether they liked men or women. Just not men themselves—he had zero interest in male servants.
Second, they needed potential. Enough talent that using his Servant Conversion trait on them would give him satisfying feedback and help him grow stronger faster.
Yukino, Asuna, and Utaha all met these conditions. Looks and personality were secondary. As long as there was a good reason, he could compromise.
"Understand, Kasumigaoka-san?" Leo gave her a slow, dangerous smile. "If I hear you whispering behind my back again and trying to stir rebellion… I'll put a curse on you."
"C-Curse?" Utaha blinked. "What curse?"
"Relax. You're my adorable servant. I wouldn't use anything too cruel." His cheerful grin didn't match his horrifying words. "At most, something mild. Like giving you hemorrhoids for a month. That's fair punishment, right?"
The moment he said it—
All three girls froze.
Utaha's face went pale. Yukino and Asuna stiffened in terror.
"Are you a devil?!"
Utaha's voice cracked.
"Sorry, but I am a devil."
Leo looked absolutely delighted.
The three girls fell silent, internally swearing never to provoke their petty, vindictive master again.
Not because of pain.
But because of the social humiliation.
"You're the master. We have no right to interfere with how you pick servants."
Yukino regained her composure, though her tone made it clear she wasn't planning to debate with him anymore. Instead, she redirected the conversation again. "By the way, did Shiina-san trigger a reaction from the Evil Pieces?"
Leo clicked his tongue but nodded.
"She did. And more than one."
Rook piece, Bishop piece, Pawn piece… Mahiru triggered three types in total, proof of her talent.
But talent alone wasn't enough.
Without a special trait, even the most capable human was still just a human.
Her reactions were shallow—suggesting that even if she became a servant, her potential would be low.
If not for his desire to test whether Servant Conversion would attract an unclaimed Sacred Gear, Leo would never have considered recruiting someone of her level.
If she could draw in a Sacred Gear, then it would be different.
Truth was, Leo was still torn.
If he bet and lost, he'd waste a precious servant slot—and the potential trait feedback he could gain in the future would decrease.
Even a single lost opportunity could affect his long-term growth. It wasn't a gamble he could make lightly.
That was why, after the failed attempt, he could put the matter aside so cleanly.
"Mahiru… I'll leave her alone. Let fate decide."
Leo repeated his conclusion and looked at his girls.
"Anyway. You've all finished your devil work for the day, right?"
All three nodded, even Utaha—she'd already finished handing out flyers.
"Is there something else we need to do tonight?"
Asuna asked softly.
"There is." Leo smiled. "Our club was officially established today. So we're going to have our first club activity."
The girls perked up, curiosity written all over their faces.
"What exactly are we doing?"
Yukino asked immediately, too impatient to wait.
Leo replied with a grin.
"You girls should already be familiar with familiars, right?"
Of course they were.
After all, everyone else in this manor—other than the three of them—was a familiar.
"For devils, familiars are pretty important. They can't help much in battle, but signing a contract with a creature that obeys your commands and handles miscellaneous tasks… that's incredibly convenient."
Leo stood up, his smile widening.
"Tonight, I'm taking you to get your familiars."
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50 p.s. for an extra chapter today!Please add it to your library :)
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You can read up to chapter 122 on patreon.com/NiaXD.